Family

Kacang puteh: DIY fun for kids and families

August 16, 2018

Kacang puteh used to be a common sight on the streets in Singapore, as pushcart vendors peddled roasted, steamed and fried nuts, beans, crisps and more. The savoury snack was Singapore’s answer to popcorn.

What is kacang puteh?

Introduced by Indian immigrants, kacang puteh resembles the Indian street snack chevdoor chana
(chickpeas). Meant as a healthy treat between meals, the vendors gradually added fried, roasted and sugared nuts, as well as an assortment of beans, peas, and crisps, to the selection. You can opt for one (or few) snack in a cone. Prices usually start at $1 a cone.

(Photo: Priyanka C. Agarwal)

Singapore’s last kacang puteh seller

Once a fixture outside cinemas like The Cathay, kacang puteh stalls are more likely to be found at pop-up pasar malams, random hipster cafes or weddings. The only permanent, dedicated stall we know is located at Peace Centre (35 Selegie Road).

The stall belongs to Amirthaalangaram Moorty, who took over the business from his father when he decided to retire to India. His wares are handmade from scratch. The stall is open Monday to Saturday, from 10.30am to 8pm.

(Photo: Priyanka C. Agarwal)

Make kacang puteh at home

Making your own allows you to decide how much of each snack to include, and the balance of sweet, spicy and salty flavours. It’s easy and fun – perfect for some parent-child bonding moments during the weekend. Here’s what you need.

1 Newspaper/magazine squares to form cones

The only way to serve kacang puteh is in a paper cone. Learn to make one yourself with this nifty YouTube tutorial.

From there, you simply assemble your kacang puteh mix. You can purchase pre-bought ingredients, throw them into a mixing bowl, and with a large spoon mix everything up before adding it into a paper cone.

Essentially twisted fritters made of rice and lentils, murukku come in all shapes and may be flavoured, spiced, and even curried. Opt for different varieties to keep it interesting. FairPrice Murukku comes in fine and thick varieties ($1.30 for 150g). Camel’s Round Murukku ($1 for 130g) can be eaten whole or broken up into smaller pieces.